Cat Mental Health

[scotl]

I'm looking for advice about my poor cat.

A few months ago, almost overnight, her behaviour changed dramatically and it's gradually getting worse as time goes on. It's now to the point where we are devastated to be questioning whether she has any quality of life.

• the most worrying thing is that she will sit rooted to the spot for hours on end barely moving whatsoever. Not sleeping but just with her head down staring at the floor :(
• she just about tolerates being touched but it clearly makes her very anxious
• she eats barely anything at all
• she will go outside for a few minutes only
• becomes incredibly anxious if we have any visitors
• on her bad days it's almost like she's struggling to swallow. I think maybe because her mouth is dry from not drinking enough :(

We've taken her to the vet multiple times to have her checked but all the results come back fine and there is nothing causing her any physical pain. The vet is putting everything down to anxiety. We've tried changing her diet, we've tried plug ins. The vet gave us medication to calm her but when she is having a bad day she refuses to eat so it's difficult to get her to take it, plus it makes her really wobbly etc :( There hasn't been any changes such as a house move or a new pet or baby. We can only presume something has happened to her outside to trigger all of this.

Some days she is like a different cat and will lie on me happily, being petted and brushed - purring away. Then other days, and more frequently, she is doing all of the things noted above and it almost seems like she is dying.

Can anyone suggest anything I can do to help her?

[SpamChaudFroid]

That sounds very upsetting. Has your vet ruled out a stroke?

[BovaryX]

Hi
That sounds very worrying. Is she losing weight? Has something changed in her environment? Is there another cat present perhaps outside which is causing her anxiety? Did she used to go outside? Things which comfort my anxious cat include classical music; Eric Satie, Chopin, Debussy, nothing military! He loves his basket which makes him feel safe. Did the vet do blood tests?

[scotl]

Hi thanks for the replies.

The day after the sudden changes in behaviour, the vet kept her in overnight and sedated as she was so distressed. We fully thought she had been hit by a car or someone had hurt her but she had blood tests and scans and nothing showed up at all. No sign of stroke. No signs of any physical trauma at all. She was given medication to calm her but it almost just knocks her out.

No changes to her environment that Ive been able think of.

She's never been much of an outdoor cat and previously she would never really leave our garden but now she will sit rooted to the spot on the rug in the living room day and night if you let her. The neighbours have cats but I've never seen them in our garden, although I obviously can't rule out that a cat has been at her at some point.

I wouldn't say she is very underweight but she is slim. She will eat the bare minimum and I think this is just enough to keep her going as she does zero physical activity.

Some days she really is like a different cat though and will happily lie stretched out with my 2 sons being petted and she purrs away. She has a blanket we used when she was a kitten which she still loves to lie on but she will only entertain it on her good days!

We're really at a loss as to what we can do for her.

[BovaryX]

It really sounds like something has happened to her. I would suggest another vet for a second opinion. It is definitely not normal feline behaviour. I would try some classical music and I would also try a cat basket because they can be very comforting for stressed cats.

[scotl]

Thanks bovary I'll give your suggestions a try and go to a second vet.

[BovaryX]

Good luck, I hope you get some answers. Classical music can be absolutely brilliant for an anxious cat, it's quite amazing

[BovaryX]

By the way, if the vet has given you medication to calm her and it's knocking her out, that might explain her catatonic state! What is it?

[theoriginalmadambee]

Seeing your thread, I immediately thought kidneys, if they don't function properly, the blood isn't cleaned sufficiently and you often see personality changes. But I expect that was one of the first things your vet checked?

I would definitely find a new vet. If your cat isn't in pain, but overly anxious, she shouldn't have too 'sedating' drugs, but more likely antidepressants.

But new vet, good luck.

[scotl]

Thanks madambee - I'll ask the second vet about kidneys when I take her in. I don't recall this being mentioned specifically to me when we discussed the results. I do remember that there was a urine sample taken?

I've just looked out the vet bills and over the last few of months she's had scans, full x rays and full bloods done. They gave her loxicom, metacam, clavesptin and synulox which I think are various antibiotics, painkillers and anti inflammatories to rule out infection and such like.

She came home with nurtacalm twice, which was only a short term thing while she was very distressed and acting quite aggressive. That behaviour has stopped now though and gradually we have been left with her acting as I've described above.

I will get her to a second vet for another opinion. Thanks for your input so far!

[JustALittleHistory]

She sounds like she is in pain, are her teeth definitely ok, can she see properly? (ruling out the obvious) If she isn't sleeping well that would explain the zonked effect. I would certainly be seeking 2nd and 3rd opinions and trying different texture food, treats, water fountains, catnip, setting up hidey hole play stuff - all the options!

[theoriginalmadambee]

I've asked my dd (vet student so has access to more literature). Her input is that If it's not trauma or anxiety, the only thing she can think of symptoms wise is brain problems or this link. It is far fetched, but if you read the link try to see if the symptoms fit.

I'm not sure, if the symptoms you describe have been there all along or they are caused by medication.


veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951980

[HandsOffMyRights]

Just checking the cat flap situation. Sorry if you've already mentioned this, but do you have a cat flap and can other cats get in?

[TheLongRider]

One of mine could best be described as a Nervous Nigel. He hates fireworks and exhibits the same behaviour as your cat if there is even the faintest of bangs.

He also appears rooted to the spot, tail tucked under him, ignoring food and company. Sometimes one of our other cats will go and wash him but mostly they ignore him until he's back to normal. It usually takes about a day and then he's ok. He also suffers from idiopathic cystitis but not at the same time. We haven't found a cause despite repeated vet visits.

[scotl]

I'll have a read through the link you sent, thank you!

Thelongrider that sounds exactly like my cat! I was actually going to use how anxious pets act with fireworks to describe her originally. She tucks her tail and legs right in and if you happen to walk past her, her hair stands on end. She's acting like this probably 4 days / 7 now.

No we don't have a cat flap. Nor do we have young kids or other pets etc. The house is always calm and quiet. We've tried changing her diet. We've wasted £££ on lots of different foods, toys and beds etc.

She has spent the entire day curled up under the dining table until my husband lifted her outside for 2 minutes this evening. She literally didn't move an inch from 8am - 4pm. She hissed at one of my sons when he moved one of the chairs which is so out of character.

I definitely think that something physical has happened to her which has caused a brain injury or mental trauma. I'm almost positive she's not currently in any pain. It just breaks my heart to think that she's scared and anxious in her own house.

Thank you everyone for all your suggestions! My husband is going to take her to a new vet tomorrow.

[Lighteninginabottle27]

Does she have somewhere high she can go? I.e a cat tower type thing? Anxious cats like to be high up.